Christmas parades, events abound

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

By Melonie Roberts

Area residents will have a plethora of choices when it comes to holiday parades and activities this year. With local municipalities scheduling morning, mid-afternoon and evening events, weekend activities abound until the Christmas holiday.

Starting on Friday, Dec. 6 and Saturday, Dec. 7, Jolly Mill will host an open house from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the park, located on County Road 2025 southwest of the Monett Regional Airport. This two-night event will offer refreshments to guests and an opportunity for kids to visit with Santa Claus.

C&C Country Store, in Exeter, owned by Calla Bacon and Cheryl Lee, will host a community luncheon starting at 11 a.m. Ham, turkey and all the fixings are available at a cost of $6 per person.

Line up begins at 1 p.m. at Exeter School with the parade route will travel to Front St. to Maple Street.

Santa will be at the Community Building following the parade with bags of goodies for the kids.

The Cassville Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Christmas parade starting at 6 p.m. on Dec. 7.

Entries begin lining up at the Cassville High School at 4 p.m. with the procession to Main Street beginning at 5:45 p.m. and reaching Main by 6 p.m. The parade route will conclude on either Farm Road 2182 or Clover Street.

On Friday, Dec. 13, Herrin Animal Hospital in Cassville will host an open house and toy drive all day. Toys will be donated to local organizations for distribution to children in need in Barry County.

On Saturday, Dec. 14, the City of Washburn will host its annual parade starting at 11 a.m.

Parade route starts at the Baptist Church and proceed past City Hall to Main Street to Highway 90, to Second Street and conclude at the Baptist Church.

The Pierce City Christmas Parade will kick off at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14.

Line-up starts at 12:45 p.m. at Central Elementary School. The parade route will travel down Gibbs Street to Commercial Street, the north on Olive to Main Street.

Santa will be available for photos and to visit for about 30 minutes following the parade at the new pavilion at the junction of Highways 39 and 97.

The City of Seligman will hold its parade at 2 p.m.

Line-up starts at 1 p.m. at Dollar General Store on Main Street. The parade route continues up Main to City Hall.

Santa Claus will make a special stop at City Hall following the parade to hand out treats to youngsters.

Wheaton's annual Christmas parade will follow at 6 p.m.

Santa will be at the Wheaton Depot Museum before and after the parade for photos and to visit.

The parade kicks off at 6 p.m. from Body of Christ Ministries, (formerly Gizmo's Event Center), on Highway 86 to Main Street and concludes at Wheaton School.

Following the parade, free chili, hot dogs, cookies and hot chocolate will be available at the park.

For those tiring of the hustle and bustle of Christmas activity, getting back to nature might be the ticket to holiday stress relief.

Schedule a quiet day at Roaring River State Park for a hike along some of the woodland trails and stay to watch the eagles coming in to nest in the afternoon.

Starting at 3 p.m. at the Nature Center, participants can view a video about Bald Eagles before heading out to catch a glimpse of these majestic birds of prey coming in to roost for the evening.